Typewriter eraser holder



Oct. 22, 1935. L, Q NEF 2,018,029

TYPEWRITER ERASER HOLDER Filed Oct. 26, 1934 Ga LCM INVE TOR JL: ATTORNEY.

Patented a. 22, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TYPEWRITER ERASER HOLDER Louis C. Neff, Brooklym N. Y.

Application October 26, 1934, Serial No. 750,117

12 Claims.

The invention relates to typewriter eraser holders, and more particularly to a holder permitting erasures to be made by a typist without grasping the eraser in the fingers.

The ordinary circular typewriter eraser consists of a disc of soft vulcanized rubber having an abrasive in the filler used, this disc being held between two metal plates connected by a tubular rivet.

When using such an eraser, the typist grasps the eraser and rubs the portion of the paper from which the erasure is to be made, fairly hard pressure being developed. Most erasures are made while the inked impression is fresh, so that there is a tendency to smut the paper, even though a typist may exercise great care to keep the eraser clean, with movement of the eraser, and also to smut the edge of the eraser. This condition is greatly accentuated when the erasure is to be made from carbon copies of an original document. Smut upon the paper requires additional rubbing to remove same, and smut upon the edge of the eraser not only interferes with the making of a clean erasure, but actually increases the amount of smut to be removed from the paper upon which an erasure is being made. To avoid this condition, the typist not only has to change the position of the eraser to bring fresh portions into contact with the paper, but at times is compelled to clean the accumulated smut from the eraser before attempting to make an erasure.

The effectiveness with which an eraser can be used, particularly when erasures are to be made upon sheets while in a typewriting machine, is dependent upon the circular form and a proper width of the periphery of the eraser, since with an eraser having a flat or flattened surface the action cannot be applied or limited, even with the use of an ordinary pierced shield, to the spot upon the paper from which the erasure is to be made.

When grasping a circular eraser in the fingers,

the tendency is to develop excessive pressure' against the paper, and the smutting of the paper and of the eraser, at times, causes a prolonged v rubbing action, sulficient to wear a hole completely through the paper, necessitating the rewriting of a document. Furthermore, when so grasping the eraser, the fingers and hand become smutted from the eraser and from contact with carbon paper, or portions of the paper from which erasures are not being made.

With the ordinary circular eraser, there is a tendency on the part of a. typist to use the sides at the periphery of the eraser in an effort to bring a clean surface into contact with the paper, and to allow the typist to clearly observe the work being done. This tilting of the eraser tends to narrow its edge so as to seriously interfere with the contact of a sufficient width of the eraser with a desired width of paper. The narrowing or thinning of the edge of the eraser also tends to cause it to so flex as to interfere with a proper abrasive action.

1 Even with the most highly skilled typist, the

necessity for making erasures is of frequent occurrence because of mechanical conditions in a typewriter. When operating at the higher typewriter speeds, there is a tendency to transpose letters and to pile impressions of succeeding letters.

It is obvious that the time required to make erasures, to clean an eraser, and to keep the hands of the typist clean, impairs the efiiciency prevent a free turning thereof while allowing it to turn with short, restrained impulses during a part of each reciprocation when making an erasure, so as to clean smut from, and recondition, its periphery in a manner to ensure at all times an effective, clean edge surface. 3

A holder embodying the invention is grasped in the palm of the hand, so that the thumb or other part of the hand is so positioned as to afford an unobstructed view of the portion of the paper upon which the eraser is acting. The positioning of the hand out of the line of vision prevents contact thereof with the typewritten sheet, or with carbon paper folded away from the sheet from which matter is being erased. Hence, soiling or smutting of the hand is prevented.

The grip of the holder extends radially of the eraser, and the position of the hand and the development of pressure by the forefinger closely adjacent the eraser, but not in contact therewith,

permits the eraser to automatically follow the rounded surface of a typewriter platen, and avoids likelihood of excessive abrasive action, due to the curvature of the platen, upon any portion of the letter or letters to be erased as the eraser V is given a series of short rapid reciprocations in 7 parts are so constructed and arranged as to be readily understandable even by those not mechanically inclined.

The form and arrangement of the parts is also such as to permit the quick and convenient removal of an excessively worn eraser and the substitution of a new one therefor.

The holder includes no parts which by breakage would make the holder inoperative, and if the parts should become separated, they can readily be reassembled without the aid of tools.

The invention consists primarily in a typewriter eraser holder embodying therein an elongated'hand grip having one end thereof formed to provide a bearing seat adapted to engage the palm of the hand, means whereby a circular eraser may be detachably and rotatably mounted adjacent the other end of said grip, and a manually operative presser arm mounted for unrestrained movement towards and from said means toward said bearing seat end of said grip and extending at an angle into engageable relation with the periphery of an eraser adjacent the top thereof, whereby a variable, manually controlled erasing pressure upon an eraser may be developed with resultant resistance to its turning and in such other novel structural characteristics as are hereinafter set forth and described, and more particularly pointed out in the. claims hereto appended;

Referring to the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a typewriter eraser holder embodying the invention, a circular eraser being indicated in dotted lines;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the presser arm detached from the hand grip; and

Fig. 3 is a view upon an enlarged scale of a modified form of presser arm.

' Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawing, the hand grip I is formed of sheet metal, affording side bars II and 12 connected by a loop 3 at one end thereof. This handle is of a length to be firmly grasped in the hand of the user with the looped end l3 thereof bearing upon the palm of the hand.

Adjacent the free end of each side bar Il-IZ is an inwardly directed bearing stud l4-|5 adapted to enter the tubular rivet connecting the side plates of an ordinary circular eraser in a manner to permit the free rotation of said eraser between said side bars. Said bearing studs l4 and I5 may be short stud rivets, or the material of the side bars may be drawn into the desired form of a bearing for the tubular rivet of the eraser.

Half hard, cold rolled steel, brass or other metal may be usedin the production of the hand grip, and in forming said hand grip the side bars II and I2 may be forced together to an extent to develop suflicient resiliency toward the free ends thereof to prevent the accidental escape of an eraser, due to the spreading of said arm. This will not interfere with the free rotation of the eraser.

As will more fully appear hereinafter, the construction of the holder is such that during repeated reciprocations of the eraser, when making an erasure, it will be held firmly against rotary movement in one direction,'and will turn slowly in its bearings l4 and I5 during reciprocation in the opposite direction, sufficient resistance being offered to this turning movement to so limit the amount thereof as to ensure some abrasive action during this movement. The amount of pressure exerted upon the paper from which the erasure is being made, and the degree of the turning movement of the eraser, in the manner above described, is manually determined and controlled by the typist through the medium of a presser arm l6 mounted toward the looped end of the hand grip and extending upwardly from said grip at an angle into engageable relation with the periphery of an eraser adjacent the top thereof.

This presser arm I 6 is preferably made of edge of the eraser, I transversely arch the end of the presser arm, adjacent the roughened portion thereof, so that while the edge of the eraser is being cleaned, it will also be reconditioned or e restored to its original curved form.

To facilitate the mounting of the presser arm. upon the hand grip, I preferably provide said arm, at the end thereof opposite to that which engages an eraser, with lateral trunnion forming ears l8 adapted to enter openings IS in the side bars H and I2 respectively. This construction permits a free pivotal movement of the arm to permit the roughened end thereof to accommodate itself to the changing diameter of the eraser with prolonged use, without requiring any material variation in the pressure developed through this arm upon the periphery of the eraser with such changing diameter thereof.

If a rigid connection be provided between the ears or trunnions l8 and the side bars H and I2, excessive flexure of the arm I6 is required to maintain it in contact with the eraser with the lessening of its diameter.

In the production of the arm IS, a blanking die is used and the transverse curvature at one end of the arm, and the. teeth constituting the roughened portion I1, may be formed by means of the same die. In time, the teeth of the portion I! will become worn from the action thereon of the abrasive in the eraser. The use of hardened steel ensures a satisfactory life of this part of the holder, but other materials and manufacturing methods may be employed which will prolong the life of the arm, but such materials and such methods tend to increase the cost of production to an extent to be impracticable for an inexpensive article of this character.

In Fig. 3 of the drawing, I have shown a construction of presser arm which, when used, will double the life of the holder. In this embodiment of the invention the presser arm proper is shown at Mia and the ears or trunnions at I8a. Instead of arching the free end of the arm, as hereinafter described, this arm is made of thicker stock than the arm I6 and the end thereof, is swaged to concavely arch both sides of the arm, simultaneously with the formation of the teeth or roughened surfaces thereon. In this form of the invention one of the arched roughened surfaces is shown at Ila and the reverse arched roughened surface at l'lb.

With this form of presser arm, a pivotal connection between the arm and the hand grip is essential since the arm may project from either side of the hand grip, according to whether the portion Ila or the portion l'lb is to be engaged with the periphery of the eraser.

I prefer to employ the form of'arm shown in Figs. 1 and 2, because with the thinner stock of which the arm is made, the material of said arm has inherently greater flexibility and permits a more convenient use of the holder.

The manner of use of a holder embodying the invention is substantially as follows:-

To mount a circular eraser in the holder, it is merely necessary for the user to spread the bars H and i2 and pass the eraser between the bars, which, when released, will close upon the eraser with the bearing studs l4 and 15 within the ends of the hollow rivet or other opening through the eraser.

When it is desired to erase one or more letters, the typist grasps the hand grip H3 with the loop portion thereof engaging the palm of the hand, and the forefinger engaging the presser arm l6 adjacent the area of contact of said arm with the eraser. When grasped in this manner, the edge of the eraser contacting with the sheet of paper is positioned well forwardly of the hand, so that the typist can observe the action of the eraser. This position of the hand affords a clear line of vision to the work, whether the eraser be held in a true vertical position or tilted slightly to one side or the other.

The desired contact pressure between the eraser and the paper is developed by the action of the forefinger upon the member Hi. The extent of this pressure may be varied at will and the action will be practically automatic. As the eraser is being rubbed back and forth upon the sheet, movement away from the typist will be accompanied by a slight turning movement of the eraser by reason of the lowered resistance to turning of the eraser because of the forward and upward angle of the arm l6. With the movement of the eraser toward the typist, however, the resistance to turning movement will be sufficiently great to hold the eraser stationary so as to get the maximum abrasive action upon the paper. Sufficient pressure may be applied to the arm to prevent turning movement of the eraser in either direction, and this pressure of the forefinger may be relieved only when it is desired to permit the turning of the eraser. When this pressure is so relieved, the eraser will turn during its movement away from the typist.

This mode of operation results because with movement of the eraser forwardly or away from the typist, the resistance to the turning movement is relatively lower than with movement in the opposite direction, due to the wedging action developed during the latter movement from the angularity of the arm l6 and the yieldability of the material of the eraser.

With the turning of the eraser, the portion thereof engaged with the roughened portion I1 of the arm l6 will abrade the surface of the eraser sufiiciently to remove any smut thereon, and will, at the same time, remove any flattened surfaces of the eraser due to the rubbing action.

Consequently, the eraser will always have a true, 5

circular, clean, transversely arched periphery.

With the use of a holder embodying the invention, no ragged edges on the eraser are developed, nor will the edge of the eraser become worn at the sides to develop a highly flexible edge 1 about the eraser.

With the use of a holder embodying the invention, the diameter of the eraser is gradually reduced and the flexibility of the arm IE, or this flexibility coupled with the pivotal support of the 15 arm, causes the roughened surface thereof to have movement radially of the eraser so as to constantly engage same.

The constant cleaning and ire-forming of the surface of the eraser avoids all smutting of the 20 paper by the ink or carbon reproduction. The pressure required to make an erasure is considerably less than that which is used when grasping the eraser in the fingers. Consequently, the likelihood of wearing a hole in the paper is reduced to a minimum.

The length of the hand grip not only avoids contact of the hand with a smutted eraser, but keeps the hand away from the surface from which the erasure is being made and carbon sheets folded away from the typewritter platen. No smut will be transferred from the eraser to the sheet from which the erasure is being made Most erasures are made while the printed sheet is upon the rounded surface of the typewriter platen. The application of pressure by the forefinger causes the eraser to follow the curvature of the platen, the portion of the hand grip contacting with the palm of the hand acting more or less as a fulcrum point about which the holder turns when following a rounded surface.

With the use of a holder embodying the invention, the eraser is always ready for use without the necessity for cleaning the surface thereof. The eraser always has a properly formed, clean edge, and the typist is relieved from the annoyance and loss of time incidental to cleaning an eraser and cleaning the hands after making numerous erasures.

The time required to make an erasure is less than when gripping the eraser in the hand, the surface of the paper, after the erasure, is smooth and clean, and the amount of effort required is materially less than when gripping the eraser in the fingers.

It is not my intention to limit the invention to the precise details of construction shown in thedrawing, it being apparent that such may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having described the invention, what I claim as 'new and desire to have protected by Letters Patent, is: 1. A typewritter eraser holder embodying therein an elongated hand grip having one end thereof formed to provide a bearing seat adapted to engage the palm of the hand, means whereby a circular eraser may be detachably and rotatably mounted adjacent the other end of said grip, and a manually operative presser arm mounted for unrestrained movement towards and from said means toward said bearing seat end of said grip and extending at an angle into engageable relation with the periphery of an eraser adjacent the top thereof, whereby a variable, manually con- 7 trolled erasing pressure upon an eraser may be developed with resultant resistance to its turning.

22. A typewriter eraser holder embodying there in an elongated hand grip formed of sheet metal, looped at one end to provide side arms and a bearing seat adapted to engage the palm of the hand, each of said arms having, adjacent its other end, a bearing stud, whereby a circular eraser may be detachably and rotatably mounted in said grip, and a manually operative, flexible metal, presser arm mounted for unrestrained movement towards and from said bearing stud toward said looped end of said grip and extending at an angle into engageable relation with the periphery of an eraser adjacent the top thereof,whereby a variable,manua1ly controlled erasing pressure upon 'an eraser may be developed with resultant resistance to its turning.

3. A typewriter eraser holder embodying therein an elongated hand grip having one end thereof formed to provide a bearing seat adapted to engage the palm of the hand, means whereby a lcircular eraser may be detachably and rotatably mounted adjacent the other end of said grip, and a manually operative presser arm pivotally mounted for unrestrained movement towards and from said means toward said bearing seat end of lsaid grip and extending at an angle into engageable relation with the periphery of an eraser adjacent the top thereof, whereby a variable, manually controlled erasing pressure upon an eraser may be developed with resultant resistance to its turning.

4. A typewriter eraser holder embodying therein an elongated hand grip having one end thereof formed to provide a bearing seat adapted to engage the palm of the hand, means whereby a circular eraser may be detachably and rotatably mounted adjacent the other end of said grip, and a manually operative presser arm mounted for unrestrained movement towards and from said means toward said bearing seat end of said grip ,and extending at an angle toward, and having a roughened surface adapted to be brought into engageable relation with, the periphery of an eraser adjacent the top thereof, whereby a variable, manually controlled erasing pressure upon ;an eraser may be developed with resultant resistance to its turning.

5. A typewriter eraser holder embodying therein an elongated hand grip formed of sheet metal, looped at one end to provide side arms, and a bearing seat adapted to engage the palm of the hand, each of said arms having, adjacent its other end, a bearing stud, whereby a circular eraser may be detachably and rotatably mounted in said grip, and a manually operative, flexible metal,

presser arm mounted for unrestrained movement towards and from said bearing stud toward said looped end of said grip and extending at an angle toward, and having a roughened surface adapted to be brought into engageable relation with, the periphery of an eraser adjacent the top thereof, whereby a variable, manually controlled erasing pressure upon an eraser may be developed with resultant resistance to its turning and with turning of the eraser the periphery thereof will be cleaned and re-formed. V

6. A typewriter eraser holder embodying therein an elongated hand grip having one end thereof formed to provide a bearing seat adapted to engage the palm of the hand, means whereby a circular eraser may be detachably and rotatably mounted adjacent the other end of said grip, and a manually. operative presser arm pivotally mounted for unrestrained movement towards and from said means toward said bearing seat end of said grip and extending at an angle toward, and having a roughened surface adapted to be brought into engageable' relation with, the periphery of an eraser adjacent the top thereof, whereby a variable, manually controlled erasing pressure upon an eraser may be developed with resultant resistance to its turning, and with turning of the eraser the periphery thereof will be cleaned and re-formed.

7. A typewriter eraser holder embodying therein an elongated hand grip having one end thereof formed to provide a bearing seat adapted to engage the palm of the hand, means whereby a circular eraser may be detachably and rotatably mounted adjacent the other end of said grip, and a manually operative presser arm mounted for unrestrained movement towards and from said means toward said bearing seat end of said grip and extending at an angle toward, and having a transversely arched roughened surface adapted to be brought into engageable relation with, the periphery of an eraser adjacent the top thereof, whereby a variable, manually controlled erasing pressure upon an eraser may be developed with resultant resistance to its turning, and with turning of the eraser the periphery thereof will be cleaned and re-formed.

8. A typewriter eraser holder embodying therein an elongated hand grip formed of sheet metal, looped at one end to provide side arms, and a bearing seat adapted to engage the palm of the hand, each of said arms having, adjacent its other end, a bearing stud, whereby a circular eraser may be detachably and rotatably mounted for unrestrained movement towards and from said bearing stud in said grip, and a'manually operative, flexible metal, presser arm pivotally mounted toward said bearing seat end of said grip. and extending at an angle toward, and having a roughened surface adapted to be brought into engageable relation, with the periphery of an eraser adjacent the top thereof, whereby a variable, manually controlled erasing pressure upon an eraser may be developed with resultant resistance to its turning, and with turning of the eraser the periphery thereof will be cleaned and reformed.

9. A typewriter eraser holder embodying therein an elongated hand grip formed of sheet metal, looped at one end to provide side arms, and a bearing seat adapted to engage the palm of the hand, each of said arms having, adjacent its other end, a bearing stud, whereby a circular eraser may be detachably and rotatably mounted for unrestrained movement towards and from said bearing stud in said grip, and a manually operative, flexible metal, presser arm mounted toward said bearing seat end of said grip and extending at an angle toward, and having a transversely arched roughened surface adapted to be brought into engageable relation with, the periphery of an eraser adjacent the top thereof, whereby a variable, manually controlled erasing pressure upon an eraser may be developed with resultant resistance to its turning, and with turning of the eraser the periphery thereof will be cleaned and re-formed.

10. A typewriter eraser holder embodying therein an elongated hand grip formed of sheet metal, looped at one end to provide side arms, and a bearing seat adapted to engage the palm of the hand, each of said arms having, adjacent its other end, a bearing stud, whereby a circular eraser may be detachably and rotatably mounted in said grip, and a manually operative, flexible metal, presser arm pivotally mounted for unrestrained movement towards and from said bearing stud toward said bearing seat end of said grip and extending at an angle toward, and having a transversely arched roughened surface adapted to be brought into engageable relation with, the periphery of an eraser adjacent the top thereof, whereby a variable, manually controlled erasing pressure upon an eraser may be developed with resultant resistance to its turning, and with turning of the eraser the periphery thereof will be cleaned and re-formed.

11. A typewriter eraser holder embodying therein an elongated hand grip formed of sheet metal, looped at one end to provide parallel spaced side arms, and a bearing seat adapted to engage the palm of the hand, each of said arms having, adjacent its other end, a bearing stud, whereby a circular eraser may be detachably and rotatably mounted in said grip, and a manually operative, flexible metal, presser arm, of a width to pass between the side arms of said grip, pivotally mounted for unrestrained movement towards and from said bearing stud between said arms and toward said bearing seat end of said grip, and extending at an angle toward, and having upon the opposite sides thereof transversely arched roughened surfaces adapted to be selectively brought into engageable relation with, the periphery of an eraser adjacent the top thereof, whereby a variable, manually controllederasing pressure upon an eraser may be developed with 'resultant resistance to its turning, and with turning of the eraser the periphery thereof will be cleaned and re-formed.

12. In a typewriter eraser holder an elongated hand grip having one end thereof formed to provide a bearing seat adapted to engage the palm of the hand, means adjacent the other end thereof whereby a circular eraser may be detachably and rotatably mounted upon said hand grip, and a member mounted for unrestrained movement towards and from said means, said means extending from adjacent said bearing seat into engagement with said eraser, whereby pressure may be applied to said member by the forefinger to control the rotary movement of said eraser.

LOUIS C. NEFF. 

